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iratyde_author 's review for:
A Journey Home
by Ira Tyde
BookLife Review (BookLife Editor's Pick) [https://booklife.com/project/a-journey-home-101041]
Debut author Tyde makes a big splash with this addictive tale about life and love in the music business, set primarily in Ireland. Once upon a time, Irish singers Leonard Fagan and Aideen Brennan made beautiful music together. Following a brutal breakup (the cause of which is not revealed until the end of the story), Aideen goes on to find success writing and performing solo, while Leonard is so troubled by the demise of their relationship that he doesn’t write a note for six years. When Leonard’s struggling record label, Quicksilver, aims to reconnect the duo, young analyst and project manager Sophie must lead the search for the elusive Leonard, aided by an ambitious temp who has a family connection to Aideen.
Trouble is immediately afoot: Sophie’s boss is incensed with her. Aideen has no real desire to reconnect to that painful time in her life. And if Sophie and Casey fail, so do their careers. Tyde writes with authority about the ins and outs of making albums, managing talent, and the relatable terror of what it feels like to be a junior worker in a meeting of the executive committee. Even more urgent: A Journey Home’s thoughtful exploration of the conflicts that can arise when art meets commerce—and romantic relationships fail miserably. Tyde’s deft plotting and persuasive worldbuilding (complete with fanposts, lyrics, and interview quotes) will send readers rushing through the pages, despite the story’s hefty page count.
Tyde’s characters resonate, both as people and stars. Leonard is Dylan-esque in music, appearance, and attitude; it’s easy to imagine Aideen as an ethereal Billie Eilish. And Sophie and Casey ring true as ambitious and likable strivers hoping to climb the ladder while remaining decent human beings. Finding closure for Leonard and Aideen, a mission at first motivated by Sophie and Casey’s careers, quickly becomes an authentic quest. Tyde has serious literary chops and a flair for engaging storytelling. Readers who enjoy multilayered women’s fiction will devour this.
Takeaway: Strong debut of a fabled Irish music-industry romance.
Comparable Titles: Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones and the Six, Jessica Anya Blau’s Mary Jane.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Debut author Tyde makes a big splash with this addictive tale about life and love in the music business, set primarily in Ireland. Once upon a time, Irish singers Leonard Fagan and Aideen Brennan made beautiful music together. Following a brutal breakup (the cause of which is not revealed until the end of the story), Aideen goes on to find success writing and performing solo, while Leonard is so troubled by the demise of their relationship that he doesn’t write a note for six years. When Leonard’s struggling record label, Quicksilver, aims to reconnect the duo, young analyst and project manager Sophie must lead the search for the elusive Leonard, aided by an ambitious temp who has a family connection to Aideen.
Trouble is immediately afoot: Sophie’s boss is incensed with her. Aideen has no real desire to reconnect to that painful time in her life. And if Sophie and Casey fail, so do their careers. Tyde writes with authority about the ins and outs of making albums, managing talent, and the relatable terror of what it feels like to be a junior worker in a meeting of the executive committee. Even more urgent: A Journey Home’s thoughtful exploration of the conflicts that can arise when art meets commerce—and romantic relationships fail miserably. Tyde’s deft plotting and persuasive worldbuilding (complete with fanposts, lyrics, and interview quotes) will send readers rushing through the pages, despite the story’s hefty page count.
Tyde’s characters resonate, both as people and stars. Leonard is Dylan-esque in music, appearance, and attitude; it’s easy to imagine Aideen as an ethereal Billie Eilish. And Sophie and Casey ring true as ambitious and likable strivers hoping to climb the ladder while remaining decent human beings. Finding closure for Leonard and Aideen, a mission at first motivated by Sophie and Casey’s careers, quickly becomes an authentic quest. Tyde has serious literary chops and a flair for engaging storytelling. Readers who enjoy multilayered women’s fiction will devour this.
Takeaway: Strong debut of a fabled Irish music-industry romance.
Comparable Titles: Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones and the Six, Jessica Anya Blau’s Mary Jane.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A